Coal-mining machine.



PATBNTBD DEG., 11, 1906.

lv1D. V. SICKMAN.

GOALMINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLBnsEPT. 27, 1904.

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PATENTBD DEC. II,` 1906.

I). v. SICKMAN. CCAL MINING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IIL'ED SEPT. 27. 1904.

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No. 838,470. PATENTED DBILII, 1.905. D. v. SIGKMAN.

COAL MINING MACHINE.

AP'PLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 27. 1904.

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Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application led September 27, 1904. Serial No. 226,191.

To cz/ZZ 1071/077@ t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAvY VANCE SICKMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at.

Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Mining Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in coal-mining machines of the electric-poweroperated type, and particularly refers to specific improvements of the structure shown and described in my pending application, filed November 23, 1903, Serial No. 182,307.

In the above-mentioned application a cam for releasing the gripping-dogs is positively fixed once it is adjusted, a spring is used to cushion the ram as it is driven forward to accomplish its work, and the series of teeth on the ram are arranged to approximately equal the length of a predetermined movement of the gripping-dogs at the point of engagement. I have found that these features have their weaknesses, and it is the purpose and object of this invention to provide specific details of construction to perfect the defects.

It is important that the ram be released at any point in the length of its stroke, and to meet this requirement I have provided a manually-operated cam adapted to be adjusted by the operator to release the dogs to change the length of the stroke of the ram at any point without stopping lthe mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a track adjacent the teeth of the ram in order that the teeth of the gripping-dogs may freely slide over the same should the pick be obstructed in its forward movement. The purpose of this feature is to prevent the teeth of the dogs engaging the teeth on the ram in case the latter does not make a normal stroke to prevent the ram on its return abnormally compressing the operative springs.

A further object of the invention is to arrange a cushion of peculiar construction to receive the blow of the ram when it is driven to its work.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved coal-puncher. Fig. 2is a top plan view, parts being, broken away. Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the adjustable cam. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal section of the ram and its grippingdogs. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a side elevation.

The machine is supported from a meta frame comprising castings of definite form having covers to inclose the working parts. As the form ofthe frame will differ to suit different requirements, no particular description of such is necessary herein, it being simply noted as a frame" 1.

An electric motor 2 is suitably mounted at therear end of the frame, to the armatureshaft of which is fixed a bevel-pinion 3 and a balance-wheel 3a. A bevel-gear 4, centrally fixed on a shaft 5, mounted in bearings 6, rising from frame 1, is suitably driven by pinion 3. The ends of shaft 5 beyond the frame carry spur-pinions 7, arranged to mesh with and drive spur-gears S, fixed on a transverse shaft 9, supported in suitable bearings 10, as shown.

Each of the gears 8 is provided with a crank-pin 11, to which is secured one end of a connecting-rod l2, the opposite end of which is secured to a cross-head 13. The cross-head is mounted to reciprocate in the main frame between guides 14. To the outer sides of the cross-head are wrist-pins 15, projecting beyond the frame 1 and receiving the ends of connecting-rods 12. The cross-head. is formed with a central longitudinal opening 16 and with horizontally-arranged transverse passages 17, communicating with opening 16. A toothed dog 19 is mounted for movement in each of the passages 17 the teeth of the dogs being on the proximate facesmthat is, toward the opening 16. Springs 20, seated in recesses 21 in each of the dogs and bearing against the walls of passages 17, tend to hold the dogs normally at the limit of inward movement. In ears 22 on the cross-head are pivotally mounted two yokes 23, the arms22a of which engage notches 18 and serve as the means for operating said dogs. The arms 22a extend below the cross-head, and on the connecting-bars are mounted friction-.rollers 24.

A cylinder 26 is fastened to the front of IOO the frame 1, and in the outer end of this cylinder is a bushing 27, fastened in place by a second bushing 27 a and bolts 28. The inner end of the bushing fits the cylinder, and its face is provided with a facing of leather 29.

The piston or ram 30 is operative through the bushing 27, extending rearward through opening 16 of the cross-head and being supported in suitable bearings. Contiguous the bushing 27 the ram is formed with longitudinalribs 31, arranged to fit in grooves 32, formed interiorly of the bushing, with the result to prevent the rotation of the ram in operation.

The ram at its point of passage through the cross-head is provided with toothed segments 35, one at'each side of the ram and positioned to be engaged by the dogs 19. The cut of the teeth of the segments and dogs is such as to present the effective working plane toward the rear, so that the dogs will engage and hold the segments when the dogs are moving in a rearward direction, but will slip over the teeth of the segments without holding engagement when moving in a forward direction. A track 19a is formed on each segment in plane with the top of the teeth and extending outwardly therefrom.

A collar 36 is secured to the ram immedii ately forward the segments and is provided on its face with a leather surface 36a. Adjacent the collar 36 and loosely mounted on the ram is a collar or piston 36h, fitting nicely the cylinder 26 and provided on both its faces with leather surfaces 36C and 36d. A coil-spring 36e is interposed between the collar 36b and the inner face of the bushing 27.

The rear end of the ram is provided with a rectangular head 39, preferably screwed onto a reduced end of the ram. A bearing-head 40 is securely fastened to the main frame-directly beneath the motor 2 and in horizontal alinement with the ram-head 39. Guiderods 41, secured in head 40 and passing loosely through openings 42 in the ram-head, are encircled by springs 43, which latter are compressed between the ram-head and the bearing-head in the operation of the machine and serve to drive the ram forward to its work.

To operate the releasing mechanism-that is, to disengage the dogs 19 and segments 35-1 provide a cam 44, having an extension 45, which works in ways 46, secured to the under side of the frame 1. The Cain-plate has two operative surfaces 47', each surface designed to be in alinernent with one of the respective friction-rollers 24 and adapted to throw the yokes (hence the dogs 19) away from the'ram and disengage the teeth. To the extension is fastened a bent rod 43, connected at its outer end to an operatinglever 49, pivoted at 49a, and provided with. a

latch which coperates with a segmentall rack 49h. Obviously by manipulating the lever 49 in either direction the position of the cam 44 will be changed. Consequently the force of the blow of the pick will be correspondingly altered. This feature of my invention I regard as highly important, inasmuch as the force of the blow of the pick can be quickly changed vwithout stopping the operation of the apparatus. y

The frame is mounted upon wheels 50 and moved by handles 51, secured to the sides of the frame contiguous the motor 2 and adjustable as to height through a slot 52 and bolt 53, as shown in Fig. 1.

The parts being in the position indicated in Fig. 1, the operation of my improved coalpuncher is as follows: The power of the motor forces the cross-head 13 in a forward direction, the dogs 19 overriding the toothed segments 35 of the ram. At the limit of the movement the dogs, through effect of springs 20, are forced into gripping or holding engagement with the segments, and on a return movement of the cross-head the ram is forced toward the rear, gradually compressing springs 43. At a predetermined point in the travel of the cross-head the rollers 24 of the yokes contact with and ride down the cam-surfaces 47 of cams 44, forcing the yokes 23 outward and disengaging the dogs 19 and toothed segments 35, permitting the springs 43 to drive the ram forward with. a force sufficient to render effective the tool 34. The capability of adjustment of the cam, through operation of the lever 49, permits the disengagement of the dogs and segments at various points in the travel of the crosshead, as will be evident, thus giving the operator control of the strength of the stroke of the ram, as a quick disengagement of the dogs and segments will of course operate the ram under a less tension of the springs 43 than if the disengagement took place only at the limit of movement of the cross-head. lt is true adjustable cams have heretofore been used to alter the stroke of the ram, but in each instance known to me it is necessary to stop the operation of the machine and release bolts or the like; but by connecting the parts with an operating-lever as described I am enabled to move the cam without loss I of time or the releasing of nuts land bolts and then tightening the same. If the machine should be so placed that the operative surface will not receive the full strength of the force of the ram, the recoil-spring 36a and the air-cushion formed in the cylinder 26 will receive and absorb the shock, thereby preventing damage or strain to the machine. Under these circumstances the collar 36 will strike the collar 36h, and that will in turn compress the spring 36a, and inasmuch as the collar or piston 36b 'fits the cylinder 26 snugly the air therein is compressed, the air being vented through one or more openings 26a in the cylin- IOO der. Should, however, the blow be so severe as to compress the spring and the collar 36h strike the end of the bushing, the leather faces will contact and the impact will be relieved. As the ram is withdrawn the collar strikes against the flange l, located at one end of cylinder 26, and its movement is stopped, while the companion collar 36 is moved rearwardly with the ram, as shown in Fig. 4. It sometimes happens that the pick does not make a normal stroke, due to striking an unusually hard substance or for other reasons. However, the length of stroke of the connecting-arms 12 being uniform always remains the same. If the ram should not move the contemplated distance, the teeth of the dogs will travel over the teeth of the cross-head and onto the tracks 19"L without in any wise injuring the parts in the reverse movement. If it were not for the tracks, when the ram failed to make a normal stroke the teeth of the dogs would engage the teeth of the segments and in drawing back the ram to compress the springs 43 to accumulate force to drive the pick to its work said springs would be abnormally compressed. To insure against this condition when the crosshead is driven forward, the dogs will ride over the teeth of the segments onto the tracks, which spreads the dogs apart, and upon the reverse movement they travel on the tracks until the segments are reached, when the teeth will become engaged and draw back the ram. The compression of the springs 43 is therefore always the same, irrespective of the forward movement of the ram, so that it makes no difference what the length of blow of the pick is below normal the dogs will ride upon the tracks and will only pick up the ram to compress the springs when the teeth are opposite each other. The length of stroke of the connecting-rods l2 being the same, while the length of stroke of the ram may vary, the importance of the tracks can well be appreciated.

rlhe improvements herein enumerated are essential to a practical and commercial coalpunching machine wherein a constantlydriven cross-head coacts with a pair of dogs automatically released to allow a ram to be driven to its work. The adjustability of the cam, as by a lever, without stopping the machine, the insuring of the relief of the impact when the ram is driven to its work, and the safety arrangement of the engaging teeth to prevent abnormal compression of the ramoperating springs all coact with each other to produce a successful coal-punching machine possessing simplicity and durability.

I/Vhat I claim as new isl. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a reciprocating cross-head, means operating to engage the cross-head and ram, means constantly in the path of the cross-head to disengage said cross-head and ram, said means being manually adjustable during the operation of the ram.

2. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a cross-head, means operating the cross-head, means connecting the crosshead and ram at a determined point, adjustable means continually in the path of travel of the ram for operating said rain-connecting means, and a lever for adjusting said latter means during the operation of the ram.

3. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a cross-head, means operating the cross-head, mechanism continually in the path of travel of the ram for disengaging the cross-head and ram, adjustable means operating said latter mechanism, guides in which the adjustable means are mounted, and levers connected to the adjustable means for operating the latter during the operation ofthe machine.

4. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, teeth on the ram with tracks adjacent the teeth, a cross-head carrying movable dogs with teeth, and mechanism operating the cross-head, the teeth of the dogs riding on the tracks when the ram fails to make a normal stroke.

5. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a motor operating the ram in one direction, means at one end of the ram for operating it in the reverse direction, a piston on the ram, a cylinder to receive said piston, a spring interposed between the piston and an abutment in the cylinder, and an opening formed to free the air in the cylinder, to form a cushion when the tool is driven to its work.

6. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carryinCf a tool, means operating the ram, a collar tast on the ram, a cylinder, a piston loosely mounted on the ram, which works in the cylinder, a spring interposed between the piston and an abutment in the cylinder, and an opening formed to free the air in the cylinder.

7. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a continually-operating crosshead, means operating to engage the crosshead and ram, means parallel with the path of travel of the cross-head to disengage said cross-head from the ram, and manually-operated means for changing the position of the disengaging means during the operation of the ram without altering the relative parallel position of the disengaging means.

S. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, a cross-head carrying a movable dog which engages the ram, means disengaging the cross-head and ram, a track, and mechanism operating the cross-head, the movable dog riding on the track when the ram does not give a normal stroke'.

9. In a coal-punching machine, a ram carrying a tool, means for driving the tool to its work, a cross-head, means carried by the IOO IIO

caress-head .for engaging. the ram at deter- I name to thlis. specification in the presence of minate points, means dlsengaglng the ram tWo subscribing Wltnesses. and cross-head, and means preventing the cross-head-engaging means engaging the ram v D' VANCE SIOKMAN 5 during a part 0i the return stroke When the Witnesses:

said ram does not give a normal stroke. ALBERT MAOOLM.

In testimony whereof I have signed my H. C. MOCABE. 

